ENVIRONOLOGY OVER FENG SHUI
Over the past 39 articles in this series, we attempted to show how the environment today conforms to principles observed thousands of years ago by ancient sages. Technology and literacy were primitive and limited. We must salute these wise men for their ability to document and describe natural phenomena in such a way that it stood the test of time.

During these ancient times of feudalism, warlords and subsequently kings and emperors understood the power of such knowledge and kept them secret for their own purpose. The general population remained in the dark and probably considered these skills to be part of the rulers’ power of divinity.

Anyway, we mentioned on several occasions that the term “feng shui” only appeared once – and briefly at that – in the written texts of Guo Pu, known as the founder of feng shui or Chinese geomancy.

It is unfortunate that modern science overlooked the body of work and dismissed all forms of geomancy as mere superstition or common sense made mysterious. It is our conviction that this practice is a science which can be tested, retested and proven.

We hope that over time, we can contribute to a change in thinking and attitudes that will result in geomancy being treated seriously by academicians. They can test all the hypotheses to debunk them. And once they discover, as we believe they will, that they are valid, they can proceed to measure and quantify them, something that ancient sages were ill-equipped to do.

Stigmatised terms
Since the term “feng shui” and geomancy continue to be stigmatised as metaphysical concepts, we want to step away and establish a new understanding for this subject. Already, several universities in the People’s Republic of China are introducing this as a subject in architecture and engineering.

Henceforth, we want to describe our work as environology – the science and logic of the environment. Our interaction with our environment determines our harmony, prosperity and health, and it is about time we take this subject to a higher level.

This week, let us look Jalan Kuari in Cheras. This is an interesting area as it is the valley between the ridge of the Kuala Lumpur Valley and Bukit Ketumbar. In ancient texts, it is said that “between two mountains there is a river” and “between two rivers, there is a mountain”.

Between two hills, there has to be a river. This is a natural formation: rainwater flows down any slope and collects at the lowest point between two high areas. It may be a temporary river formed during rain, or a covered monsoon drain, for the matter, but it is still considered a “river”. After all, earth’s energy flows down slopes in a similar manner.

Between two rivers, there has to be higher ground – the “mountain”. It does not have to be a towering terrain. The land between two rivers can generate and pool energy.

HIDDEN RIVER, CROUCHING MOUNTAIN
Based on these points, Jalan Kuari, which goes all the way to Taman Mawar, can behave like a river. This road services the Cheras Chinese, Christian, Hindu and Muslim cemeteries. Kampung Cheras Baru is located here, stretching over a long distance along the road. One would assume then, that this would be some backwater or “kampong” road.

Not so. Years ago, there was a toll plaza on Jalan Cheras near Taman Midah. This was way before the Middle Ring Road 2 was built. Jalan Kuari became a popular alternative road for motorists who wanted to avoid paying toll.
Traffic jams were commonplace as motorists wound their way around Taman Bukit Mewah and Taman Cheras (or Taman U Lek) to go round the toll plaza. Eventually, the highway concession expired and the plaza was removed.
[Jalan Cheras was subsequently upgraded further away by a new concessionaire and toll was imposed for this stretch of the road.]

The hilly terrain around Jalan Kuari means that earth energy is constantly moving, from high land to low. The velocity depends on the gradient of the slope, which varies from place to place.

GENTLY DOES IT
The most ideal energy for harmony and life is in the form of a gentle, homogenous pool. This can normally be found on plains, river deltas and embracing side of rivers. This is why civilisations over centuries have prospered in such areas.

Moving energy is akin to river rapids. Rapids can be tapped for water. At the same time, they are a powerful force that is potentially dangerous.

That is the case with the housing estates here. They are mostly built on hill slopes over varying gradients. Even the most ideal facing ones – high rear, low front – are not likely to enjoy long-term success. It would be a case of easy-come-easy-go, or make 10 million, lose 9 million.

Jalan Kuari follows the shape of Bukit Ketumbar, roughly that of a gigantic boomerang or banana, if you will. That means, properties in the concave or embrace of the road will do better than those on the outer convex.

Putting them all together, we find an area that is unsettled and unlikely to raise itself to a higher level of development or success. It is likely to remain the way it has turned out, for years to come.

GO WEST
Taman Bukit Mewah is located between the Jalan Cheras cemeteries and Taman U Lek. On the U Lek side, there is also the start of the Kerayong River. Therefore, the most ideal orientation would be westward to face the river. This also means the front of the property is lower than the back.

However, only a few roads allow this orientation, such as Jalan Lancang, Jalan Payang and Jalan Sekuci. Houses on one side of the road are likely to enjoy good energy while the opposite side are likely to fare worse. This opposite side would have the back towards the river and face high ground.

Kampung Cheras Baru slopes gently downhill east of Jalan Bukit. In this case, properties that face downhill and toward the river will do well. Again, those opposite to that may fare poorer since they cannot tap into the energy flowing here.

Taman U Lek is a different kettle of fish as most of the properties here are built on slopes, and steeper ones at that. On gentler inclines, we can find terraced houses. On steeper ones, we can see house with sharp drops in their backyards.

Inhabitants here do not enjoy beneficial gentle energy. Their homes, offices or shops are constantly buffeted by waves of energy running down the hill.

EASY COME, EASY GO
According to environology principles, properties that face uphill will receive the full brunt of oncoming energy. This is not conducive at all for their occupants. Those that face downhill experience easy-come-easy-go success as mentioned earlier.

The curvature of roads can further affect these properties. Those facing the outer side of of a bend or curve may fare poorly, more so if they face uphill.

As for homes that sit perpendicular to the slope (sloping from left to right or vice versa), the impact would depend on the house’s facing direction. Certain locations of the house represent the male and female members of a family. If the elevated side of the house favours the male, then the sons will do well in their studies. Likewise, if the higher side favours the female, the daughters will fare better.

Nevertheless, it is still not advisable to construct home on land where strong energy is flowing. In the long term, it may still have a negative impact.

In Taman U Lek, there is a wet market along Jalan Kaskas 2. The side that faces downhill is more conducive than the other side. It is also interesting to note that the shophouses facing the market on Jalan Kaskas 2 all face uphill, and corresponding seem to be more rundown than shops behind them (which face downhill).

CORNERED ADVANTAGE
Only the corner Chinese coffeeshop seems to be doing good business. This is because, as a corner shop, there is an entrance into Jalan Kaskas. Nonetheless, the long-term impact of the slope is likely to diminish or limit the restaurant’s fortunes over time.

Hilltop apartments, condominiums and houses are not the most ideal places to live in. Here, the buildings contribute or give away their energies which then flow downhill. Going without the presence of beneficial, gentle energy is bad enough, but giving away energy must take the cake!
This could explain why so many hilltop projects are abandoned half. The structures and their defiance of environology principles could have impacted the property developers’ financial performance, prompting the abandonment to happen.

Those that managed to get completed may not fare much better either. Over times, the fortunes of their occupants may fade, and the area adopts a rundown appearance.

Further south of Bukit Ketumbar, there is another hill: Bukit Segar. Unlike the former, which is shaped like a banana, Bukit Segar is more like an octopus with appendages sticking out. We will see next week how that can dramatically affect the fortunes of developments here.